Hi, Jon--
For what it's worth (and from a VERY cursory search), there is apparently a
mention of "Ann Moore, Postmistress of Lancaster, First Woman Appointed to
Office Under the Federal Government" in the Journal of the Lancaster (PA)
Historical Society.
http://www.lancasterhistory.org/journal/contents_32-34.htm
Good luck!
--Eric
Eric D. M. Johnson
Proprietor
The Village Factsmith Historical Research & Consulting
The Cybernetick Inkwell Web Design & Development
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----- Original Message -----
From: "kukla" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Thursday, April 22, 2004 5:09 PM
Subject: Gallatin, Jefferson & women
Two questions arise from the following succinct letter from President
Jefferson to Albert Gallatin, secretary of the Treasury, on January 13, 1807
:
My on-line search of the Jefferson Papers via LoC American Memory has
(so far) not turned up any letter FROM Gallatin that would seem to have
prompted the response in the first sentence. There IS correspondence in
December 1806 about Isaac Briggs, etc. The overall pattern of
Jefferson-Gallatin correspondence in the archive suggests that Jefferson
usually responded to Gallatin promptly (often the next day (and up to
fortnight only after Gallatin sent him a huge file about the complex New
Orleans batture case).
The appointment of a woman to office is an innovation for which the public
is not prepared, nor am I. Shall we appoint Springs, or wait the further
recommendations spoken of by Bloodworth? Briggs has resigned, and I wish to
consult with you when convenient on his successor, as well as on an
Attorney-General. Affectionate salutations.
Image available at LofC American
Memory/Jefferson Papers
along with this transcription from
Paul Leicester Ford, ed. Works
of Thomas Jefferson. Federal Edition.)
1) Any suggestions for sources that might shed light on what (whom?) had
Gallatin suggested that elicited this response from Jefferson?
2) Who / when was the first presidential "appointment of a woman to office"
?
Thank you
Jon Kukla
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